Vivian Girls | AWmusic

AWmusics Top Songs of 2008 pt 1: #76 100

Rest of the series:
Part 2: #51-75
Part 3: #26-50
Part 4: #1-25
I’m really late with my top songs list. There are far too many and it’s likely I missed a whole bit. In order not to just give a list of 100 songs, I’ll split it into four-parts with a 10-word limit describing each track.
#76 (Why Don’t You Go) Take A Hike by Thunder Power (myspace/video)
Even if she tells me, I’m not leaving.
#77 Wishing Well by Love Is All(myspace/video)
Josephine Olausson is a goddess. I’ll make her feel better

.
#78 Take Me Home by Team Genius(myspace/video)
Most optimistic attempt to be Michael Jackson vocally?
#79 Clouds by The Rumble Strips (myspace)
“I’m lying on my back, looking at the clouds”
#80 Singer-Songwriter Anthem by Silver Speakers (myspace)
I think of this whenever I hear a singer-song writer.
#81 The Hollows by Why? (myspace)
10 words doesn’t do it here.
#82 Cherry Tulips by Headlights (myspace/video)
Pop at its finest.
#83 The Nun’s Litany by Magnetic Fields (myspace)
Fuel to the “dirty nun” fantasy.
#84 Black Satin by The Raveonettes(myspace)
Another simple yet effective Raveonettes song.
#85 California Girls by Magnetic Fields
Someone actually hates California Girls?
#86 Where Do You Run To by Vivian Girls (myspace)
A simple yet catchy song.
#87 You, Me and the Burgeoise by The Submarines (myspace/video)
I-phone commercial for the win?
#88 Bye Bye Bye by Plants and Animals (myspace/video)
Good song….album? ehhh
#89 Stormy High by Black Mountain (myspace)
A great start to a great album.
#90 Nothing Ever Happened by Deerhunter (myspace)

“Best song to play on a road trip”
#91 Constructive Summer by Hold Steady (myspace)
Me and my friends are like “constructive summer”?
#92 Ghosts by Ladytron (myspace/video)
Schizophrenia?
#93 House Music by Cadence Weapon (myspace)
Best song on Afterparty Babies.
#94 Creeper by Islands (myspace/video)
Video is odd.
#95 The Old Days by Dr. Dog (myspace)
“Let go of the old ones, we’ve got new ones.”
#96 Jodi by The Dodos (myspace)
Jodi my dear, this is a song you must hear.
#97 Battle Royale by Does It Offend You Yeah? (myspace/video)
A catchy instrumental for one of my favorite movies.
#98 I Wasn’t Made For Fighting by Woodhands (myspace/video)
They were actually made for dancing.
#99 Heaven (Narctrax Remix) by Health (myspace)
Health’s Disco has amazing remixes.
#100 Dawn Of The Dead by Does It Offend You Yeah? (video)
Critics hated on the wrong album.

The Vivian Girls are in town with Fucked Up for a Halloween series at Sneaky Dee’s. Along with Fucked Up, The Vivian Girls scored huge recognition from critics, including an 8.5 from Pitchfork. While some reviews weren’t as positive, I thought I’d take the chance to cover them.

The Vivians are a 3 girl trio out of Brooklyn gaining notoriety for their punk and shoegaze elements. For me, it’s not all that much punk but mores to the creative shoegaze style that I’ve learned to like over the past few years.

The album is just 10 tracks and clocks in a short 22 minutes. Personally for me, 22 minutes is like an EP and even then, I’m used to seeing EPs that are just as long. The production is very lo-fi and is very raw in nature. It’s very difficult to actually judge them in my opinion because we are given only bits and pieces and a small glimpse in general of what (if anything) the Vivian Girls can pull off.

After checking out the Vivian Girls and analyzing it a few times, it’s clear to me that this album isn’t as good/fresh as Pitchfork is making it out to be. Granted, it’s purely based on opinion and it always seems like P4K is promoting bands the blogs or other magazines necessarily don’t like.

Before I sound too critical, I do actually like this album but it shouldn’t stop me from saying it’s overrated. The simple lo-fi nature of the album shows off Cassie Ramones strong skills as a lead vocalist. I think when you think of “punk” bands, it’s hard imagining a lead vocalist capable of singing in other genres, but with Cassie, I wouldn’t mind seeing her on a dream pop band.

Musically, it’s still more “creative” rather then actually having substance right now. Of the music, the basslines are probably the greatest thing. I’m not sure about the guitaring effects as nothing specifically stands out from the production, though at times they are excellent. Case in point the excellent I Believe In Nothing where guitaring takes center stage with an interlude between Cassie’s I Believe In Nothing.

I think the biggest criticism and most valid point I can make is that while it’s clear the Vivian Girls are good, songs lack a more concerted effort to be great. Lyrically, it’s more structured to be a hypnotic anthem rather then something meaningful. Songs that have its moments are only for a short amount of time, with 8 of the tracks under 3 minutes.. it’s hard to dissect something I’m incredibly satisfied with.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5
Probably worth checking out. They are a hot new band but they may not keep you in your seat once they get a hold of you.

Where Do You Run To by Vivian Girls

No by Vivian Girls

All the Time by Vivian Girls